Ch.137Chapter 137: Tranquility (1)

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Now that the darkness covering the sky, intentionally spread by the Demon Realm, had disappeared.

Even though the snow had stopped falling and sunlight gradually shone down from the cleared sky.

Even though the biting winter wind of the North cut through the thick winter uniforms of the soldiers, chilling them to the bone.

The battle they had fought without exception as each year came to an end.

Having survived the life-or-death struggle against the forces of the Demon Realm…

“UOOOOOOHHH!!!”

Their thunderous cheers announced that the harshness of winter meant nothing to them.

The distance between the collapsed outer wall of the fortress where I stood and the center where the garrison forces had gathered was quite far, yet I could hear them clearly.

There’s no need to explain just how powerful those cheers were.

[They’re in good spirits. Well, it’s only natural to cheer like that after a victory.]

Even Fafnir, who had been in a foul mood after hearing consecutive criticisms about the appearance of the Dragon Armor, responded positively to the cheers of the Night Haven garrison forces.

As I realized that the subjugation ceremony I experienced after arriving at Night Haven earlier than in my previous timeline had successfully concluded…

“Huaaahm…”

A soft sigh escaped my lips, revealing that I had unconsciously relaxed.

‘Perhaps it’s because the tension is gone. I feel somewhat languid too.’

With that thought, I tried to continue my conversation with Fafnir, partly to soothe his still-displeased mood.

[You, young man, shouldn’t be relaxing your body just yet.]

When Fafnir responded with criticism instead of engaging with my comment, I tried to object.

‘Why shouldn’t I… Ah.’

I realized the reason mid-sentence and didn’t finish my thought.

How could I relax when Shizu was still resting her battle-weary body while depending on my arms for support?

I needed to maintain my tension so she could rest comfortably.

‘Thank you for pointing that out.’

As I expressed my gratitude to Fafnir for reminding me of this important fact…

[…You seem smart, but you’re more oblivious than you look.]

‘I’m not smart, so feel free to tease me more.’

[Oh my, how true. They say a man becomes a complete fool when it comes to his fiancée.]

‘I don’t mind becoming worse than a fool when it comes to her.’

[…I should just stop talking.]

As I was about to wrap up my conversation with Fafnir…

*Thud thud*

I turned my head as I heard someone approaching me with careful footsteps.

“I knew you were close with your fiancée, but your expression is quite direct and honest.”

Lord Löwenhart’s voice, filled with envy, reached me as he observed Shizu still clinging tightly to me.

“She was injured by the opponent she faced just beyond there, so she needs treatment…”

I briefly explained to Lord Löwenhart why Shizu was nestled in my arms.

“Hmm…”

Somehow, after hearing my explanation, Lord Löwenhart carefully examined Shizu, who had her arms wrapped around my neck.

*Grin*

Then, with a slightly mischievous expression…

“You might think that way, but she’s already…”

He tried to continue, but his words were cut short.

Why?

Just as he was about to finish his sentence…

*Flinch*

Thanks to a sudden manifestation of fighting spirit so intense that even my shoulders momentarily jerked up…

Not just me, but even Lord Löwenhart, who had been speaking, had no choice but to drop his playful expression and stiffen.

…What’s this?

There’s no reason for such intense fighting spirit to be swirling around here when almost all threats have been eliminated.

Where is this aura coming from?

And why is Lord Löwenhart in front of me stopping mid-sentence and showing such a tense expression?

“Lord…? Are you alright?”

I cautiously inquired about Lord Löwenhart’s well-being.

“No, it’s nothing.”

Despite it clearly being something, Lord Löwenhart composed his expression and claimed it was nothing. I was about to let it go without pressing further when…

“…Cal.”

Shizu’s faint voice, weaker than usual, brushed past my ear.

Turning my gaze from Lord Löwenhart to meet the eyes of Shizu who had called me…

“Shizu.”

I called her name, infusing it with as much warmth as I could muster.

“…Tired.”

I saw her expression clouded with fatigue, asserting that the wounds she had received in the fierce battle with the Adorator had not yet fully healed.

“How are you feeling?”

I carefully asked about her condition, filled with regret for not being able to give her my full attention due to the elites of the Obsidian Palace, led by the Adorator.

As she slowly opened her mouth, perhaps due to her mind being hazy from fatigue…

“…Mmm.”

Nothing but a faint moan escaped Shizu’s lips in response to my question.

So I carefully examined her more closely.

As Fafnir had briefly mentioned when I first held Shizu in my arms and worried about her injuries…

I could see that the marks from her fierce battle with the Adorator had considerably faded.

While I felt relief that nothing more dangerous would happen to her…

[As I told you, the blessing of the Holy Sword may be inferior to super-regeneration in terms of immediate effect, but it allows most wounds to heal completely given enough time.]

Unlike Fafnir, who spoke with an entirely confident voice as he confirmed that the wounds on her body were gradually fading…

“…Ugh.”

My heart grew increasingly heavy as I watched Shizu occasionally furrow her brow and let out faint moans due to the intermittent pain she felt while resting with her eyes closed in my arms.

‘…It seems the pain hasn’t completely subsided yet, which weighs on my heart.’

When I expressed my feelings in a calm tone, suppressing my gloom…

[I wonder if Lumen was like this too…]

Fafnir’s voice, faintly recalling something from a time too distant to remember, stirred my mind.

Since I was aware that I had openly shown my undisguised affection and concern for Shizu in front of Fafnir…

I felt puzzled by his unexpected response, which was the complete opposite of the teasing remarks I had firmly believed would come.

‘…Fafnir?’

I cautiously called his name, but…

[Your ancestor was the same. He absolutely hated seeing someone dear to him get hurt or suffer.]

Fafnir’s voice, responding to my call, had shed its wistfulness and revealed a controlled calmness.

Since I could once again feel the intense emotion that occasionally surfaced when he mentioned my ancestor…

I wanted to call out to him to hear more, but…

[I’m quite tired from fitting you with armor. I need to get some sleep until nightfall, so don’t call me.]

With these words, Fafnir’s voice no longer resonated in my mind to continue our conversation.

The dangerous situation was over, and there seemed to be no one else to bother me, so I had hoped to have a leisurely conversation, but that would be difficult now.

By the way, my ancestor greatly disliked seeing those dear to him get hurt or suffer.

Does that mean Fafnir, who remembers this aspect of my ancestor, was also considered precious to my ancestor in some way?

As such a small question crossed my mind…

“Ah…”

I suddenly remembered that tonight I had agreed to share some of my secrets with Fafnir and exchange them for some of his.

I could now clearly organize what I wanted to ask him.

#

As I was trying to carefully store away the wistfulness I felt from the few brief words Fafnir had uttered…

“She looks very tired. You should hold her more carefully.”

Hearing Lord Löwenhart’s voice, now filled with caution rather than mischief, advising me to hold Shizu more carefully…

I adjusted my posture, lifting my arms a bit higher to make her more comfortable.

Shizu’s body looked like it needed rest to the extent that I would have done so even without Lord Löwenhart’s suggestion.

[…What a fox.]

‘What did you say?’

[I was trying to get some sleep, but this young lady’s actions are so adorable I couldn’t help but comment. Heh heh.]

After pretending to fall asleep, then suddenly waking up to deliver incomprehensible words that distracted my mind…

Ignoring Fafnir, who had fallen back asleep…

“Once everything is completely over in a little while, I’ll take you to the infirmary.”

When I spoke these words to comfort Shizu, who was whimpering slightly from fatigue…

*Squeeze*

For some reason, Shizu tightened her arms around my neck after hearing that.

I was about to carefully call out to her, wondering why she suddenly did this, but…

Before I could open my mouth…

“Hehe… Comfortable…”

I stopped what I was about to say when I heard Shizu expressing satisfaction with the feel of the armor made from Fafnir’s scales, which contained warmth rather than just being clothing.

I didn’t think the external texture would feel that good, though I couldn’t speak for the inside…

But I did feel that the faint warmth emanating from the Dragon Armor was accelerating the healing of her exhausted body after the fierce battle.

“…Should I make it a little warmer?”

I asked Shizu, whose expression was clouded with drowsiness, if I should draw out more heat from the Dragon Armor.

“…”

Shizu, with barely any strength left to answer due to fatigue, responded to my question by slightly nodding her head instead of using her voice.

Though she was only gently nodding her head…

“Until then… I’m counting on you…”

With these words, her eyes slowly closed…

*Breathe in, breathe out*

She entered into rest to recover her depleted energy, breathing softly.

[Let’s say that’s the case.]

‘…Pardon?’

[She wants to keep clinging to you, but she’s conscious of those around her, so she’s pretending to fall asleep to depend on you.]

Waking up again from his sleep…

Fafnir’s playful voice, trying to alleviate his discomfort from reading my inner thoughts about the armor design earlier, reached me.

‘That’s wonderful.’

Perhaps because of my delighted response…

[…Haah.]

Fafnir let out a long sigh and didn’t continue speaking.

He must have fallen back asleep.

I’m not sure why he sighed so deeply right before falling asleep…

But who wouldn’t like it when someone they care for, in physical distress, completely relies on them to escape that situation?

*Breathe in, breathe out*

The sound of Shizu’s breathing, now much more comfortable after falling asleep, tickled my ear.

It was only a few dozen minutes ago that my heart sank watching her conduct the “execution ceremony” she invariably performs on opponents who defeat her, after being injured by the Adorator.

To think that after barely saving her, I would end up supporting her in my arms until the situation ended.

Originally, I had planned to carry Shizu, who was experiencing extreme fatigue, on my back to the infirmary, but…

“Thank… you…”

When she thanked me with a faint smile in her drowsy state, I wanted to see her face directly.

“Sister.”

“…What is it?”

“The situation seems to be over, so I’ll take Shizu to the infirmary.”

I immediately reported to the highest authority of the fortress for post-action measures.

“Go ahead. The hero who worked the hardest today deserves proper rest.”

Hearing my sister’s prompt and clear approval without any hesitation, I gave her a brief bow and turned to head toward the collapsed outer wall.

Carefully supporting Shizu’s knees and back with both arms…

In what’s commonly called a princess carry.

*Thud thud*

The wasteland floor, completely melted by the heat of the fierce battle, was still somewhat moist…

With each step, a slightly squelchy sensation transmitted through the tips of my feet, and…

“UOOOOOOHHH!!!”

…The volume of the cheers from the soldiers and knights together showed no signs of diminishing, making me wonder when they would ever end.

The day… the day that felt the longest since my regression was coming to an end, even though the sun had not yet set.